Nordic Capitals & Fabulous Fjords

Itinerary :

Day 1 Copenhagen(Arrival): Arrive at Copenhagen Airport, and you will be greeted by a representative and transfer to the hotel. In the evening, (at around 18:30 hours) enjoy cocktail in the welcome meeting where you will meet your fellow travelers and your Tour Director. Overnight in Copenhagen.

Day 2 Copenhagen (City Tour): After breakfast, Meet your local guide for a panoramic sightseeing tour of Copenhagen. Explore the City Hall Square where the famous pedestrian street “Stroeget” begins. Tivoli Gardens (without entrance), the New Carlsberg Glyptotheque and the National Museum. Drive by the Old Stock Exchange and the Naval Church. The Kings New Square, the home of the Royal Danish Theatre with the world-famous ballet, and the old canal area, Nyhavn, with is picturesque houses and boats. Continue to the impressive Gefion Fountain and the Royal residence, Amalienborg Palace. Finally, meet the landmark of Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid. During the tour, you can also visit Christiansborg Palace from the outside, as well as Rosenborg Castle, which houses the Crown Jewels. The tour ends at the hotel. Overnight in Copenhagen. (B)

Day 3 Copenhagen – Odense – Aarhus: After breakfast, at around 09:00 Depart Copenhagen towards Roskilde the former capital of Denmark. Visit UNESCO-listed Roskilde Gothic Cathedral housing 39 tombs of the Danish monarchs. Continue to Aarhus via Odense, birthplace of the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. In Odense you will have some free time to enjoy the charming 3rd largest city in Denmark. Enjoy a guided visit to Den Gamle By (The Old City) an open-air town museum located at the cities Botanical Garden in central Aarhus. Rest of the evening at leisure or join your Tour Director on a walking tour of center of Aarhus before enjoying dinner at one of the many great restaurants of the city. Overnight in Aarhus. (B)

Day 4 Aarhus – Hirtshals – Kristiansand- Stavanger: Post breakfast, Depart Aarhus towards the Hirtshals located in the very north of the Peninsula of Jutland. Noon (11:45) departure by ferry towards Kristiansand in Norway. Upon early afternoon arrival (14:00) in Kristiansand continue to Stavanger, Norway’s 4th largest city. Join your Tour Director on this evening pre-dinner walk in charming Stavanger. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Stavanger. (B) (D)

Day 5 Stavanger – Lysefjord – Bergen: After breakfast, Departure from the hotel at 10:00 hours. This morning will be dedicated to exploring the majestic Lysefjord and its Pulpit Rock. Board an electric boat sail from downtown Stavanger to Lysefjord and Preikestolen. At 11:00 hours the 3-3,5 hours Lysefjord cruise will take you to Fantahålå (Vagabond’s Cave) you see where the “vagrants” hid from the sheriff in the old days. Not long after, you arrive at Preikestolen, where Tom Cruise climbed the sheer mountain face in the movie Mission Impossible 6. Continue to the towering Hengjanefossen waterfall. Stop to feed goats at summer pasture in Lysefjord. With luck, you might see the occasional seal sunbathing on a rock. Depart Stavanger early afternoon Hr. 14:30 towards Bergen. Arrival to Bergen and check-in to your hotel at the end of the afternoon 18:30. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Bergen. (B)

Day 6 Bergen (City Tour): Breakfast at the hotel, Explore beautiful Bergen capital of the Norwegian fjords. Explore the ambience of the Hanseatic port Bryggen a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, Enjoy the ride with the Funicular to the top of Mount Floien and admire the beauty of Bergen, located between seven Mountains. Pass by Mary St. Marys Church, Haakon’s Hall (entrance fee no included) and the colorful and picturesque fish markets where you will enjoy a fish platter with local delicacies. The journey up to the peak of Mount Floyen (320 m above sea level) takes 5–8 minutes. At the top you can enjoy fantastic views over Bergen and Norwegian coastline. Overnight in Bergen. (B) (L)

Day 7 Bergen – Gudvangen – Flaam – Borgund – Hemsedal: After breakfast, Early morning departure from Bergen and travel to the Naeroy Valley with a stunning background of snow-clad mountains. Enjoy a break with Norwegian waffles and the breath-taking views down the valley from the Stalheim Hotel. Continue down the Naeroy valley to Gudvangen for a beautiful fjord cruise along the Naeroyfjord, one the narrowest and most impacting journeys in fjord Norway. The western Norwegian fjord landscape with the Naeroyfjorden and Geirangerfjorden at the head was listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2005. Your fjord experience has been designed with vessels especially designed to maximize the sightseeing experience. Tall panoramic windows give a full view to the marvelous landscape of the calm fjord, tall mountains, and beautiful waterfalls when sitting inside the lounges. Disembark in the stunning village of Flaam where you will have some time at leisure, before or after joining one of the must dos of Fjord Norway. The guests that choose not to join an experience will have a couple of hours to enjoy the village of Flaam. Continue through the mountains to Borgund where you will have the opportunity to admire from the outside the beauty of one of the remaining Norwegian stave churches from dating back to the 12th century (entrance not included). Continue to Hemsedal and check in at the hotel. Overnight in Hemsedal. (B)

Day 8 Hemsedal (Leisure day): Post breakfast, the entire day is free for relaxation and enjoyment of the surroundings and the spa facilities. At the evening meet your fellow travelers and enjoy a dinner with local delicacies. Overnight in Hemsedal. (B) (D)

Day 9 Hemsedal-Oslo: After breakfast, Travel to Oslo, leaving the mountains behind. Arrival to Oslo and visit to the famous and impressive Munch Museum where you can admire Munch’s masterpiece, The Scream at your own pace. (Guide services not allowed). Early afternoon your local guide will share the many beautiful spots of the Norwegian Capital beautifully located by the fjord. Admire the view from the Opera house. The Vigeland Park, one of the major Scandinavian cultural treasures, will delight you with sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, Pass by the Royal Palace and the main street, Karl Johan. The tour ends at your hotel at 16:00 hours and check-in to the hotel. At 18:30 hours join your Tour Director for an walking tour to Akker Brygge. Overnight in Oslo. (B)

Day 10 Oslo-Stockholm: Breakfast at the hotel, Depart Oslo and head towards Stockholm, passing by the Norwegian and Swedish forests through the region of Varmland, the home of many legends. A lunch will be served in Karlstad located by the Lake Vänern. Arrival to Stockholm by the end of the afternoon and check-in. Join your Tour Director for a walking tour of the Swedish Capital. The evening is at leisure. Overnight in Stockholm. (B) (L)

Day 11 Stockholm: After breakfast, Meet your tour director for a city sightseeing of the Swedish capital. Go back 750 years in time and feel the medieval atmosphere of the Old Town “Gamla Stan” as you wander through its narrow streets. The seven-hundred-year-old cathedral of Stockholm, seat of the archbishop, will be seen during your stroll through Old Town, you will have the opportunity see Stortorget, the place where the Stockholm Blood Bath took place. An inside visit is paid to one of the city’s best-known symbols, the City Hall with its Blue and Golden Halls. The tour ends at the hotel. The afternoon is at leisure to explore Stockholm by your own. Overnight in Stockholm. (B)

Day 12 Stockholm – Helsinki (Overnight Ferry): After breakfast, Morning is at leisure. At around 13:00 hours departure from the hotel to visit one of Stockholm’s hidden gems. To be revealed on spot. A different lunch experience will be offered. After the secret experience continue to the pier to board the comfortable overnight ferry of Tallink Silja sailing along the Baltic Sea, bound for Helsinki. Dinner and Overnight on Board. (B) (L) (D)

Day 13 Helsinki (City Tour): After breakfast, Meet with your local guide for a city sightseeing of the capital of Finland. The tour includes the Senate Square, the University and Lutheran Cathedral – all displaying neoclassical architecture of the 1840’s, the colourful Market Square by the sea in the South Harbour, Kaivopuisto Park and diplomatic residences, the imposing statue of Marshall Mannerheim, the Parliament Building, Finlandia Hall, the Orthodox Russian Church Uspenski and the Sibelius Monument. A visit is also made to Temppeliaukio Church – called the “Rock Church” as it is carved into solid rock. After the city tour your tour director will invite to enjoy a degustation of Finnish delicacies at the food Market Hall. During the evening enjoy the vibe of Helsinki and take a stroll through Esplanade Square and enjoy the many cosy cafés and restaurants. Overnight in Helsinki. (B) (L)

Day 14 Helsinki – Tallin – Helsinki: After breakfast, Early morning transfer to the pier of Helsinki. Board the two hours cruise to Tallin. Meet your local Tallin guide for a city tour where you will discover the secrets of Tallinn’s fairytale-like Old Town, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The walking part of the tour includes Toompea Hill, where you’ll see the ancient Toompea Castle, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. the Cathedral of Saint Mary, also known as the Dome Church. Stop at one of the panoramic platforms to admire the wonderful view of the old centre’s red roofs with the dark blue Tallinn Bay in the background. Continue to the lower part of the city, walking among beautiful historic buildings until we reach the Town Hall Square. Tallinn’s Gothic-style Town Hall. Just a few steps away, you’ll find the famous Town Hall Pharmacy, which has been operating in the same premises since early 15th century. After the tour you will have a couple of hours at leisure to enjoy this pearl of a city before the transfer back to the pier and return ferry to Helsinki. Upon arrival in Helsinki late evening transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Helsinki (B)

Day 15 Helsinki (Departure): After breakfast, An English-speaking representative will meet you for your transfer to the Airport. (B)